Following a string of sad events that left three students injured—one of whom unfortunately died—eight people have been taken into custody.

When two female day students were shot at on their way to school on Thursday, June 26, the violence broke out.

Their wounds brought attention to the growing hostilities in the region, which immediately alarmed the local government.

When a male student was killed by a stray bullet while sitting in his classroom for mock exams on Friday, June 27, the situation deteriorated.

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In addition to taking a young life, this act shocked the community and sparked serious concerns about safety in school settings.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has acted quickly in reaction to the increasing violence by directing the immediate closure of Nkwanta Senior High School in the Oti Region in order to save pupils and employees from more harm.

The Oti Regional Police Command’s Public Affairs Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) John Nchor, gave an update on the security situation in the meantime.

He affirmed that in order to bring peace and guarantee the protection of the locals, a thorough security plan has been put into place in Nkwanta and the neighboring districts.

“As I am talking, calm has been restored in Nkwanta following the recent violent incident. Swift and decisive actions have been taken to maintain law and order,” DSP Nchor stated, reassuring the community of their safety.

In order to prevent additional violence and guarantee a safe atmosphere for locals, the police have taken preemptive steps like stepping up patrols and setting up checkpoints throughout the area.

Serious questions concerning community safety and the effects of tribal conflicts on the lives of young kids have been brought up by this tragic sequence of events. To stop such occurrences and promote peaceful coexistence between all the tribes in the area, local leaders and community members are urging communication and reconciliation.

The neighborhood is on high alert as investigations continue, and they hope that things will quickly return to normal and that they can feel safe in their daily lives.

Parliament on Friday, June 27, witnessed a fierce defence of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission’s (PURC) recently approved 2.45 per cent electricity tariff increment, with Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga asserting the necessity of the hike to avert the collapse of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

The new tariffs are set to take effect from July 1, 2025.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Mr. Ayariga directly addressed public concerns and opposition to the tariff adjustment, explaining that it was a critical measure to offset mounting debts within the power sector.

READ MORE: Electricity tariffs up by 2.45%, water remains unchanged – PURC

“You all know that the whole of last year and before that, there was an effort to prevent the PURC from adjusting the tariffs. So that whole period, there was no adjustment, and you know very well that bills were accruing; payments have to be made,” Mr. Ayariga stated.

He highlighted the precarious financial position of ECG, a state-owned power distributor, which has been accumulating significant liabilities due to unadjusted tariffs.

“ECG is accumulating huge [debt] and it has to be paid, so who is supposed to pay? Is it not the consumer?” he questioned, emphasising the unavoidable reality that the cost of providing electricity must ultimately be borne by its users.

He warned of severe consequences if the tariffs are not adjusted: “And if you are not adjusting the tariffs to enable ECG to pay, ECG is going to collapse. They are no longer able to buy the input needed to keep the generators on, and we are going to have a power outage; the bills have to be paid.”

The Majority Leader dismissed arguments that an improved macroeconomic environment should automatically negate the need for tariff adjustments.

“The bill has to be paid. So if PURC is doing its work, I do not think there is a basis for saying that because we have improved the economy, it doesn’t mean that the debt at ECG will just be whisked away. The bill has to be paid partly by consumers,” he asserted.

The PURC’s decision to implement the 2.45% increment, part of its routine quarterly review mechanism, has indeed drawn mixed reactions across the country.

While the commission cited factors like projected inflation at 20.67%, an exchange rate of GH₵10.3052 to the US dollar, and an increase in the weighted average cost of natural gas, some consumer groups and the Minority Caucus have questioned its justification given recent macroeconomic stability.

ECG has historically faced significant financial challenges, including high technical and commercial losses and substantial debts owed to power generators.

Reports have indicated billions of Ghana Cedis in accumulated debt and revenue under-declarations in previous years, placing a heavy burden on government finances and impacting the stability of the power supply.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has also noted GH₵488 million in outstanding revenues from previous quarters that this adjustment aims to begin clearing.

The Minister for Energy and Green Transition is expected to appear before Parliament next week to provide further clarity on the tariff review process and its broader implications for Ghana’s energy sector.

For now, the Majority Leader’s stance underscores the government’s position that the tariff hike, though unpopular, is a necessary step towards ensuring the financial viability of ECG and maintaining a stable power supply for consumers nationwide.

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Due to rising water levels submerging school infrastructure and access routes, lower primary school students in the Keta Municipality’s Mamime and Lawoshime areas have been forced to stay at home due to flooding.

Residents estimate that the calamity, which was brought on by the continuous rain, has devastated thousands of cedis’ worth of homes and farmlands. Concern regarding safety and access to essential services in the area has grown as a result of the situation.
On Friday, June 27, Patience Dogbatse, a volunteer teacher in the impacted enclave, said that the temporary closure for lower grade students is a preventative step to avoid any tragedies.

“The condition here is very bad. We need urgent help. The government must do something about this,” she said.

The already precarious educational situation is being made worse by the yearly flooding issue, which deters many instructors from accepting posts to Mamime and Lawoshime, according to Dogbatse.

She added, “For now, the students in the upper primary can attend school, but the lower primary class students are not able to go due to the flood. We are also facing serious road challenges.”

Communities are extremely vulnerable during the rainy season as a result of the years-long stalling of a bridge project that was supposed to connect Mamime, Lawoshime, and other surrounding areas. Locals are now demanding that the government step in right now and provide life jackets, canoes, and better road infrastructure.
“The government needs to provide us with canoes, life jackets, and a good road,” one resident stressed.

In response to the concerns, Wisdom Seade, the Keta Municipal Chief Executive, stated that evaluations are being conducted to assist impacted households. He supported the decision to keep some students at home, saying it was an essential action to protect youngsters while rescue efforts were underway.